Tex-436-A, Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand Patch

Method
Contents:
Section 1 Overview..............................................................................................................2
Section 2 Apparatus.............................................................................................................3
Section 3 Procedure .............................................................................................................4
Section 4 Calculations .........................................................................................................5

Texas Department of Transportation

08/9906/08

Tex-436-A, Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand

Patch Method

Section 1 Overview

Section 1
Overview
Effective dates: August 1999June 2008.
This method describes a procedure for determining the average texture depth of a selected
portion of a concrete pavement surface.
Units of Measurement
The values given in parentheses (if provided) are not standard and may not be exact
mathematical conversions. Use each system of units separately. Combining values from the
two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

Texas Department of Transportation

08/9906/08

Tex-436-A, Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand

Patch Method

Section 2 Apparatus

Section 2
Apparatus
The following apparatus is required:

Sand spreading tool, a 63.5 mm (2.5 in.) diameter flat wooden disc with a 16 mm (5/8
in.) thick hard rubber disc of the same diameter attached to one face and a short dowel
serving as a handle attached to the other face

Metal measuring cylinder, with a volume of approximately 24.6 mL (1.5 in.3)

Natural silica sand, from Ottawa, Illinois, meeting the following gradation:

Retained on 420 m (No. 40) sieve 0%

Retained on 300 m (No. 50) sieve 0 to 4%

Retained on 150 m (No. 100) sieve 96 to 100%

Ruler, at least 300 mm (12 in.) long, with markings in divisions of 1 mm (1/10 in.)

Wire brush

Soft hand brush.

Texas Department of Transportation

08/9906/08

Tex-436-A, Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand

Patch Method

Section 3 Procedure

Section 3
Procedure
The following table describes steps used in the sand-patch method of measuring the texture
depth of concrete surfaces.
Step
1

4
5

Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand-Patch Method

Action
The pavement surface selected for test must be dry.
If the concrete pavement has not been subjected to traffic, scrub the test surface with a wire
brush to remove any loosely bound particles or curing compounds that will be worn away
by a small amount of traffic.
Otherwise, the pavement surface should be swept with a soft hand brush.
Fill the metal cylinder to the top with the natural silica sand from Ottawa and gently tap the
base of the cylinder three times on a rigid surface.
Add more sand to fill the cylinder again to the top and level the top with a straight edge.
Pour the measured sand on the test surface and spread it with the rubber disc spreading tool
into a circular patch with the surface depressions filled to the level of the peaks.
The sand-spreading tool should be kept flat on the surface and moved in a circular motion.
Avoid losing any sand, especially during windy conditions.
Sand used for one test should not be reused for another test.
Measure the diameter of the sand patch at four or more equally spaced locations and record to
the nearest 1 mm (1/10 in.) under 'Calculations.'
For very smooth pavement surfaces where patch diameters are greater than 300 mm (12 in.) a
smaller known volume of sand is recommended.

Texas Department of Transportation

08/9906/08

Tex-436-A, Measuring Texture Depth by the Sand

Patch Method

Section 4 Calculations

Section 4
Calculations
Determine the texture depth T as follows:
T=

4V
D2

Where:

T = the texture depth in mm (in.)

V = the exact volume of the metal cylinder in mL (in.3)

D = the average diameter of the sand patch in mm (in.).

NOTE: A volume V of 24.6 mL (1.50 in.3) can be obtained by a cylinder 19.05 mm (0.75
in.) in inside diameter and 86.36 mm (3.40 in.) in height.
NOTE: For quick reference, a conversion table relating sand patch diameters, D, to texture
depths, T, can be determined for each sand patch test kit by using the above equation
and the exact volume of the cylinder in the kit.

Texas Department of Transportation

08/9906/08